Maxine's Bavarian Trip of Lifetime

Albatross Traveller

Maxine Vogler

What tour did you travel on?

Black Forest, Bavaria and the Tyrol tour in September, 2019.

Why did you select this particular tour?

As this tour was our first time travelling to Europe we wanted to choose a tour that took us to multiple countries so we could experience as much as we could in the short time we were there. It also involved a range of activities/sites; from castles to churches, lakes to waterfalls, mountains to forests.

Who did you travel with?

My Mum and brother.

Have you travelled with us previously?

No, but I would love to in the future.

What was your favourite place/s on your Albatross tour?

I loved everything about the tour, however I will admit I was especially looking forward to the all of the castles and palaces and they certainly did not disappoint. Neuschwanstein Castle was probably the most magical and grand and definitely my favourite. Another major highlight for me was the Christmas stores, I went into all of them and spent quite a bit of time and money.

What was the most amazing thing you saw or did on your Albatross tour?

The inside of Linderhof Palace was truly awe inspiring, every single wall was covered in hand painted murals and gold leaf detailing, even all of the furnishings were ornate and hand crafted.

Also, the Flower Island of Mainau was definitely a show stopper with its expansive gardens and flower sculptures, the entire island was perfectly picturesque.

Tell us about your most memorable moment on tour?

For me the entire trip was and will always be memorable, however one thing that does stand out, despite not being part of our tour (just a perfect coincidence), was The Viehscheid aka 'when the cows come home'. This is an annual event in Schwangau where the locals dress the cows in decorative bells and head dresses and themselves in traditional clothing to bring the cows down from the mountain tops for the winter.

What was your favourite meal on tour?

My favourite meal was the three course meal we had on our last night at the Waldhotel Luise in Freudenstadt, I chose the crispy pork belly as my starter followed by beef cheeks that literally fell apart in your mouth. Then for desert, I ordered the choc-mint mousse and also finished my Mum's creme brulee. Everything was delicious!

What advice do you have for anyone interested in travelling on this tour?

A few things I was glad to have packed were comfortable walking shoes and a versatile wardrobe. I also found it extremely handy to have some coinage on hand at all times as most of the public restrooms charged.